Golf instruction device



Feb. 17,1942. J. w. NORWOOD 2,273,416

GOLF INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed July 3, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENTQO FFIE GOLF INSTRUCTION DEVICE Joseph 'Norwood, Los Angeles, Calif. v

Application July 3, 1939, Serial No. 282,683

. 4 Claims. (01. 273-35) This invention relates to golf instruction devices and more particularly to a device adapted to be secured to one wrist of a golf player to facilitate learning the proper strokes in the game of golf. Generally speaking, the invention comprises a seator guide means for the golfclub shaft, said means having a means for positively securing it toone arm of the player and additional means adapted'to begripped, in conjunction with'the shaft, by the other hand.v Such guide means'forms a bridge between the two arms of the player and in addition to stabilizing the proper grip, secures the desired angular disposition of the club to the wrists and hands,

particularly at the moment of impact of the club head upon the ball, the arms being fully extended. IIn teaching the game of golf to the novice, or

' in correcting errors which have occurred in the play of more experienced players, it is necessary to instill inthe player a knowledge or feeling of the proper relative position of the club shaft, hands and wrists throughout the various strokes. .Golf teachers have variously expressed the ends to be attained in such expressions as keep the left arm straight and dont break the left wrist, etc. All'of these rules are merely instructions to aid the player to secure the proper relative club, hand and wrist positions. It has been discovered that in a proper stroke with any individual club the angle formed by the club shaft and either of the forearms of the player should this properangle may be orally expressed to the pupil, it is a great advantage to provide means to retain this position throughout practice swings so that the pupil has this position unerringly demonstrated to him, enabling him tov acquire a feeling or memoryfor the proper swing.

a It is accordingly one objectof this'invention vide such a golf instruction device which is sirnple and economical in construction and light in weight.

Further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing:

not vary materially throughout the swing. While Figure 1 is ari'elevation showing the "device secured to the arms of a player and indicating a club properly held therein.

Figure 2 is a'fragmentary elevationof t e club positioning element,- the thumb of the player being held back to show the proper positions of the fingers.

Figure 3 is a front elevation showing the club positioningelement in detail.

Figure 4 is a plan'view of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the entire golf instruction device.

Referring more particularlyto the drawing, I 0 indicates an arm or wrist band, preferably made of leather. Theelement I0 'is provided with a slot ll through which the narrowed end l2 ofthe band In may be drawn to fasten the band In to the arm of the player. A series of snap catches l3 are provided on the narrowed end l2, onthe rear thereof as shown in Figure5, to adjustably fasten the band in conjunction with snap button I4. a

The widened portion l5 of band I0 is preferably formed of two pieces of leather [6 andll. The outer piece 11 has a slot l8' therein for the insertion of the positioning or guide element,

The positioning or guide element includes a curved portion I 9 adapted to be inserted into the slot l8 and to lie secured in a pocket formed by the leather pieces l6 and I1. Like the widened portion 15, the curved element l9 should have an approximately frusto-conical taper in order to fit securely to the wrist of the player.

The positioning element is bent to form a member 20 to. which is preferably pivotally fastened, as by pivot 2|, the club retaining member It will be understood that the pivot 2| provides. a frictional contact between member 20 and the flange 23 of retaining member 22. The retaining member 22 will thus be held in the desired position -by this frictional contact, but may be pivotally adjusted by the application of a slight turning force. Flange 23 may be provided the fingers as clearly illustrated in Figure 2. The

retaining member 22 may taper from top to bottom so as to fit the ordinary taper of the usual golf club as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 5.

The operation of the device is as follows: With the club retaining member 22 having its portion l9 inserted in the slot I8, the band [0 is secured to the right arm of the ordinary righthanded player and fastened by one of the snaps l3 and button I4. It will be understood that by an obvious reversal of parts the device may be built for a left-handed player. The club is then inserted in retaining member 22 with the fingers of the left hand gripping the club and spacer as shown in Figure 2. The thumb of the left hand will hold the club in the retainer by the usual golf grip as shown in broken lines in Figure 1.

For longer clubs, the retainer 22 is pivoted at pivot 2| so as to extend the club head slightly (Figure 1) as will be readily understood.

With the club thus held, the golfer makes his swing. It will be understood that the retainer 22 holds the club shaft in proper position to maintain the correct angle with the right arm, e. g. as indicated in Figure l. Equally, as the left hand grips the club and the device, the proper positioning of the left arm and hand with respect to the club is maintained. The golfer needs only to fully extend his arms as the club head comes through to contact the ball to be certain that the stroke is correctly made.

In practice .it has been discovered that the device is particularly useful in maintaining the exact angular disposition of the club shaft with respect to the arms and wrists at the moment when the arms are fully extended and the club head meets the ball. At this point the device also prevents bending or flexing of the forward wrist, a common error in golf. (The left wrist with a player swinging from a right-hand position, the right wrist for a left-handed player.) Ithas also been discovered thatshould the device loosen sufliciently through use to permit the improper bending or flexing of either wrist from the desired position at the moment of impact, an unusual tension is created by the bridge formed by the device, enabling the player to recognize and correct the fault.

I have found the device particularly adapted for use in putting or in the shorter approach shots but its use is not limited thereto.

While the device may be used by the player at any time as an aid to playing the game, its chief use, due to the rules of golf competition preventing the use of mechanical aids in play, is directed to golf instruction and practice. The pupil, by using the invention, has the correct feel of the club unerringly demonstrated to him and soon acquires a memory of this feeling and teaching the game is greatly facilitated.

It will be understood that while I prefer to form the band [0 of leather and the elements l9 to 25, inclusive, of suitable metal, other durable materials may be used, keeping in mind the desired lightness of the device.

While the particular forms of the invention herein described are well adapted to carry out the objects of the invention, it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the principles of the invention, and the invention includes all such modifications and changes as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A golf instruction device comprising an arm band, club retaining means secured to said arm band, said club retaining means including a tapered club retaining member and a finger gripping spacer.

2. A golf instruction device comprising an arm band, club retaining means pivotally secured to said arm band, said club retaining means including a tapered club retaining member and a finger gripping spacer.

3. A golf instruction device comprising an arm band, a curved metallic element secured thereto, a spacer secured to said curved metallic element and a tapered club retaining member secured to said spacer. r

4. A golf instruction device comprising an arm band, a curved metallic element secured thereto, a spacer pivotally secured to said curved metallic element and a tapered club retaining member secured to said spacer.

JOSEPH W. NORWOOD. 

